Which wilderness survival skills course for first-timers

Sharp Eye

Sharp Eye

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Feb 21, 2008
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My son and I would like to participate in a wilderness survival skills course this summer. Each of us has done some backpacking, etc. However, we are both new to practicing survival skills. Which courses would you recommend as a good first learning experience?
 
If you can make it, come up to the CT Wilderness Gathering next month on the 26th and 27th. It will be a great start to a formal outdoors education.
 
If you haven't taken any wilderness first aid courses, I recommend you try that out, too. I took one a few years ago and learned a ton of things that I've used countless times since. It was pretty intensive, even without camping. Long days, some inside with paper and pens, but super useful!
 
Thanks for the invitation k-estella. Unfortunately we have a family commitment that weekend that will make it hard for us to get there. I'll see what I can do.
If you have another one, we hope to be able to join you.
Sharp Eye
 
Fire building would be right up there for me. Fire by friction is an extremely valuable skill.
 
Many places offer a basic course intended to be a pre-requisite for all other courses. These are often fairly comprehensive, and that is what I would reccommend.
 
I'm doing one in June up in Michigan. It's through the Briar Patch Outdoors.
It's a basic survival course. I figure in 7 days, I should be able to learn quite a great deal from it.

Here's a short blurb on the course borrowed from the company website:

"This course is a prerequisite to all advanced courses. It is a very comprehensive course that begins with understanding survivalpsychology. Then the fun really begins! We will cover all areasof basic wilderness survival that includes fire making techniques; constructingshelters from natural materials; finding and purifying water; utilizingtools and equipment; using a map and compass, as well as celestial navigation;knots, ropes, and making cordage; identifying edible and medicinalplants; basic trapping techniques involving constructing and placementof snares and deadfalls; organizing and using survival kits (possible bags);fishing; signaling; how not to get lost; and much, much more. Therewill be a lot of classroom and hands-on field training, and bothprimitive and modern techniques will be taught. Every skill learnedwill be practiced in the field."

That's a pretty good list to look for in a basic course I think:
Fire making
Shelter construction
Finding and purifying water
Navigation
Knots, ropes, and making cordage
Edible and Medicinal plants
Snares and Deadfalls
PSK's
Fishing
Signalling
and much, much more :)
 
You will like the course and George. George Hedgepeth owner and operator also teaches at my school. He is a great instructor and you will definitely get your money's worth.
Oldman/Marty Simon
 
How old is your son? That may affect what he is capable of learning or what he might be interested in. Not knowing his age, I feel that fire making is not only the most enjoyable and rewarding (who doesn't like a good fire), but it is also very useful. I would recommend that.

Shelter making can also be fun. Once you have a little more experience with survival stuff, I would recommend wilderness first aid, and then something dealing with the usefulness of plants. These two things can be very useful, I only recommend taking classes in these subjects later because they can be very technical at times and not quite as much fun. Plus you need an extensive knowledge as these are such vast fields. Just my .02
 
I am the guy Marty mentioned- my place is in Michigan. Marty or some other school might be closer to you, but If things work out I would love to have you and your son at a program! I work with young people as a teacher in my "real" life, and I like introducing them to the bush!
 
Thanks everyone,
I am in the process of working out the scheduling with my son and the schedule master (my wife). I'll let you know when I have the timing worked out.
 
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